Play pen and walking device



March 18, 1941- e. B. WISECARVER I PLAY PEN AND WALKING DEVICE Filed May 31, 1939 aforgzjfi z s fa7 agff mvEN-ron Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES:

PATENT OFFICE I The present invention relates to a new and improved play pen and walking device especially adapted for enabling a baby to walk without the aid of human assistance.

An important object of the invention resides in the provision of a combination play pen and walking device that will serve to restrict the activities of the baby placed therein while precluding the possibility of self-sustained injury.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination play pen and walking device comprising a hollow elastic top ring supported upon leg members which extend through the lower side of the ring and are secured to the upper side thereof. The leg members are mounted upon casters which render the device readily transportable, and as additional confining means there are provided annular rubber members supported in spaced relation on the leg members between the top ring and the casters. A guard member is disposed substantially centrally of the top ring being adapted to prevent injury to the childs fingers by being caught between the top ring and a door frame or article of furniture.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the application.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the device.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof, and

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view through the top ring and illustrating the manner of attaching the leg members thereto.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, the combination play pen and walking device indicated generally by the reference numeral 5 comprises a top ring 6 formed of rubber or other elastic material, the same being hollow and open at its inner side, as more clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. The ring 6 is of substantially the same shape and construction as a pneumatic tire comprising upper and lower side walls I and 8, respectively, and front wall 9. The flanged portions l0 formed on the open inner side wall serve as gripping members for the child confined within the ring and may be engaged when moving the device over the floor while learning to Walk. The interior of the ring 6 being hollow may further serve as a receptacle for containing various articles such as toys and the like.

The front wall 9 of the ring 6 is preferably formed with a hollow substantially cylindricalshaped guard ring I l of rubber or the like which may be vulcanized or otherwise secured thereto. The purpose of the guard ring H is to protect the hands or fingers of the infant from coming 5 in contact with a door frame, wall or article of furniture within the room as the device is moved by the walking motion of the user. The guard ring ll may be removably attached to the ring 6 in which case it would be attached to said ring by means of a clamp or the like l2 as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.

The ring 6 is mounted in a horizontal position on leg members I3, said members being of any desired shape or size and arranged in spaced relation relative to the ring. Each leg member It extends through a slotted opening I l formed in the lower side wall 8 of the ring, the extending or upper end of the leg abutting the inner portion of the side wall I, being held thereto by means of a screw or the like l5 and washer I6. The leg members will be rigidly held within the opening I 4 by means of the screw I5 thereby eliminating the use of the conventional rungs.

To serve as an additional means of confining the infant within the device, there is provided a series of rubber or the like rings ll attached to each of the leg members by means of a bracket l8. The rubber rings I! are preferably sufiiciently rigid to support the weight of the infant or child when raising himself from a sitting or kneeling position to a standing position.

The leg members l3 are supported on conventional casters l9, each caster being provided with a semi-circular shaped guard 20 to prevent contact of the infant therewith. The guards 20 are attached to the lower ends of the leg members l3 by screws or other fastening means 2!.

The herein described and illustrated play pen and walking device has been constructed in a manner to afford healthful and amusing exercise to the user. As the infant progresses in size and strength and is able to assume a standing position-,.. the device renders a natural aid in enabling the infant to acquire the steps necessary to walk. By reason of the fact that the device is primarily constructed of a rubber-like material, there will be precluded the possibility of the marring of furniture as the device is moved over the fioor.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that variations in the hereinabove described device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described are intended to be comprehended within the spirit of the present invention and that the invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and. therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device of the character described comprising, a substantially hollow rubber-like ring, supporting means extending through one wall of said ring and attached to the opposite wall, a guard ring secured to the outer side of said ring, and means attached to said supporting means for rendering said device portable.

2. A device of the character described comprising, a hollow substantially cylindrical-shaped rubber ring, the inner side of said ringbeing open, leg members for said ring, said leg members extending through an opening formed in the lower side of said ring and abutting the inner portion of the upper side thereof, means for attaching said leg members to the upper side of said ring, and guard means secured to said ring.

3. A play pen and walking device of the character described comprising, an enclosing ring, said ring being formed of an elastic material and of hollow construction, supporting means for said ring, said means including vertically disposed leg members extending through one Wall of said ring with means projecting from the upper end of said leg members and extending through the opposite wall of said ring for attachment thereto, and guard means secured to the outer portion of said ring.

GEORGE B. WISECARVER. 

